Pre-race Top 5 - Bass Pro Shops 500
With qualifying rained out for Sunday's race all ten Chasers will be starting up front, which should make for some hot racing action. One can imagine Bill France and the folks at NBC were doing some kind of wicked rain dance, praying for this scenario. Atlanta's typically high speeds, combined with an ideal forecast, mean anything might happen in the championship standings, especially if an early accident befalls the lead pack. With that in mind here are my picks for this week's Top 5:
5. Tony Stewart - The Home Depot Chevrolet has rebounded well since narrowly missing the Chase. Under the old points system Tony would be in fifth place, albeit with a slim chance of bringing home the title. His nine Top 10's in the past ten races at AMS bode well for the 20 on Sunday, especially with the premium the team has put on winning races to end the season.
4. Jeff Gordon - Although the golden boy's mental state has deteriorated as quickly as his hopes for winning the Chase, being plugged into the ninth position on Sunday's grid might get the 24 back on track. In the March race at AMS Gordon drove from the 12th qualifying position to a fourth place finish and this time he'll have friends in the draft (Three Hendrick drivers start in the first five rows).
3. Jimmie Johnson - Hungry for his first Championship and thrust back into contention the Lowe's machine seems poised to make a run for the Chase lead. It helps that the cars surrounding the 48 on Sunday's grid are either going through tough times (RCR's 29 and 31 seem especially likely to have continued engine trouble on a track known for high speeds and relatively few cautions) or are erratic performers in Atlanta (Kenseth).
2. Mark Martin - The sentimental favorite to win the Chase, Martin might see the perpetual gloom surrounding his title hopes lifted in Atlanta, a track well suited to his style of racing. The AAA Ford Fusion will run up front all day, and might earn five bonus points for leading the most laps. However that won't be enough to stop...
1. Kasey Kahne - Look for the 6 and 9 cars to work together early and charge to the front of the lead pack. In the end, Kahne's confidence and Evernham engine will ease past Martin on the final green flag run and put his Dodge Charger in victory lane, duplicating Edwards AMS sweep of a year ago.
5. Tony Stewart - The Home Depot Chevrolet has rebounded well since narrowly missing the Chase. Under the old points system Tony would be in fifth place, albeit with a slim chance of bringing home the title. His nine Top 10's in the past ten races at AMS bode well for the 20 on Sunday, especially with the premium the team has put on winning races to end the season.
4. Jeff Gordon - Although the golden boy's mental state has deteriorated as quickly as his hopes for winning the Chase, being plugged into the ninth position on Sunday's grid might get the 24 back on track. In the March race at AMS Gordon drove from the 12th qualifying position to a fourth place finish and this time he'll have friends in the draft (Three Hendrick drivers start in the first five rows).
3. Jimmie Johnson - Hungry for his first Championship and thrust back into contention the Lowe's machine seems poised to make a run for the Chase lead. It helps that the cars surrounding the 48 on Sunday's grid are either going through tough times (RCR's 29 and 31 seem especially likely to have continued engine trouble on a track known for high speeds and relatively few cautions) or are erratic performers in Atlanta (Kenseth).
2. Mark Martin - The sentimental favorite to win the Chase, Martin might see the perpetual gloom surrounding his title hopes lifted in Atlanta, a track well suited to his style of racing. The AAA Ford Fusion will run up front all day, and might earn five bonus points for leading the most laps. However that won't be enough to stop...
1. Kasey Kahne - Look for the 6 and 9 cars to work together early and charge to the front of the lead pack. In the end, Kahne's confidence and Evernham engine will ease past Martin on the final green flag run and put his Dodge Charger in victory lane, duplicating Edwards AMS sweep of a year ago.
posted by S.P.H. at 8:47 PM
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